All About My Sherbet - Page 25

cypher · 08-06-2016, 09:58 AM

Glad she ate some carrot at least & i hope she feels more like eating later.
They really do only need a tiny bit of the probiotic so even if she doesn't get a whole pinch it should still be enough.
I think you'll probably just have to experiment a bit to see what she'll eat while she's feeling like this, hope you find something she still enjoys.
If you can get some of the hemp seeds Serendipity mentioned to try it would be worth a go, the do generally like them & they are packed with good nutrition.

Thin Lizzy · 08-06-2016, 10:44 AM

Totally agree with the others, I know it's worrying when they go off their food. I would try the hemp seeds and pecan nuts because of the good fats in them.
What about scrambled egg - the white bit only?

SKB_Hamsters · 08-07-2016, 04:53 AM

Sherbet is ok, she snuggled with me late last night. I did try her again with different food, which she turned down and pushed away, although I did manage to get her to eat the tiniest amount. I made her up a nut porridge this morning, she ate a little and pouched some so the nuts where a nice temptation. I will try her with some egg and cheese later, but I have tried her with some of her other favourite treats - which she never turns down - crushed and she won't eat them. She does looks and feels skinny, I can feel her bones. Her teeth are starting to look paler. But she is still feel warm and has the occasional energetic moments.
This morning she was sneezing really bad and kept snuffling, but that has reduced a lot now.
If she still refusing food and sneezing tomorrow I will take her to the vets to see if they can do anything - as I don't know if it's due to her teeth bothering her as they are due to be trimmed on Wednesday.
I'm trying to keep Sherbet comfortable and happy as possible at the moment.

Edit - Sherbet just had a tiny piece of cheese and a little bit of blueberry before turning her nose up to any more. It feels good that she eating a little although it not much, as it shows she still got some fight left in her.

Pebbles82 · 08-07-2016, 07:08 AM

She is quite an elderly lady now so it is maybe a natural thing to want to eat less

It is worrying when you don't know what to do for the best though. I suppose the sneezing could be to do with her previous injury and her nose being affected, but a vet check may also be reassuring or give an idea with what is what.

cypher · 08-07-2016, 07:24 AM

I think it's natural for them to have less of an appetite as they get older too but I can understand how worrying it if for you SKB, I hope the vet can help but meanwhile just take it a day at a time & keep offering her titbits little & often.
Other than the sneezing & snuffling she still sounds like a very happy ham.

SKB_Hamsters · 08-07-2016, 02:59 PM

Thank you both for your support, it really does help. She did try to eat some roast chicken but such as tiny amount. I also tried giving her some wet supreme science selective biscuit using a syringe (after her accident the vet suggested this so I thought I would try it now), which I slowly gave her tiny amounts, in which she ate most - she had around 0.7g of food -until she didn't want any more. It's still not a lot (normally eats 10g+) but more than she ate yesterday and Friday - Friday is when she started to go downhill. It is also so strange as I can feel most of her bones when I hold her. She is not behaving her normal self she getting grumpy really easily, which is very unlike her, she keep sleeping in different places in her cage, behind her wheel, in a tunnel and also in a cage corner. I'm trying to keep her as comfortable as possible. I'm just hoping that now she got some good food in her hopefully that will give her a little boost.

I'm finding it upsetting as it reminds me of when my Cookie got old as she also stopped eating and started to refuse food, and she lost a lot of weight quickly although she was also such a fighter too but I had to make such a difficult decision, as she was declining so rapidly and had other health problem due to her old age. I'm just hoping that Sherbet has enough fight left in her as she means so much to me.

Pebbles82 · 08-07-2016, 04:18 PM

It is upsetting, but at some point we have to prepare for the fact that one day they will leave us, as they have such short lives. And when they stop fighting it's because they are ready to go. I think sometimes they need permission to go as well. She does sound happy but it might be that she is preparing to go. I am sure you will know when it is her time and she is lucky to have so much love and care from you, so I am sure she will live her life happily for as long as she can xxxx

cypher · 08-07-2016, 09:48 PM

I'm sorry SKB I do know how hard this is for you, we can never really prepare ourselves for the fact that they will leave us at some point however much we try & nor is it something we want to think about but this is obviously on your mind now.
You are giving her the best care & keeping her comfortable, I think you just have to let her guide you as to what she needs & wants.
I hope if her time is approaching you won't have to make any difficult decisions for her, your time together is so special & I'm sure she really appreciates all you are doing for her.

SKB_Hamsters · 08-08-2016, 05:03 AM

Thank you to both of you. Sherbet seems a little better than yesterday, probably as she got some food in her, although she is still a little snuffly. Sherbet peed on my bed this morning, which is unlike her but it's ok. But she has more of an appetite today, she ate a bit more wet food, supreme science selective biscuits, I started using a syringe but the way she grabbed the syringe and was holding it herself (luckily she wasn't trying to pouch it) happily eating it and started chewing the end of the syringe when there was none left in the syringe. I also tried her eating of a spoon in which she didn't turn down and ate some herself - which is a good sign. She didn't eat anywhere near her normal amount but she probably had between 1 to 2g approx, until she didn't want to eat anymore. So I've got some hope although she still doesn't look too good (she looks really old and skinny and her fur doesn't look at it best) but by having some food in her it might give her a good boost.

Thin Lizzy · 08-08-2016, 08:30 PM

Oh SKB so upset reading the last few posts. I know how difficult it is, you're doing everything you can to ensure she's comfortable and being cared for. I'm glad she's managed some food.
It's never easy seeing your little one get older and lose weight. Sherbet's a little trooper.